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"I was in a dark tunnel for many years and I couldn’t see the light. But I can see lots of light, lots of hope, and lots of happiness now"

The Recovery College is immensely important in my life. The courses and the staff helped me an awful lot. It has enabled me to learn things. I’ve been able to use the tools at home, to manage anxiety, and to be more positive about life.

I was eight when I had my first tumour.

I was getting bad headaches and bad eyesight. It was unbearably painful. The pain was unimaginable. There wasn’t a lot of help.

I had two major brain operations and I was on radiotherapy for a year. I was lucky because my tumours were benign.

I’m here now because of my mum’s prayers. It was a hard long road. I’ve been bruised physically and emotionally. But I intend to look up and move forward and give people help.

I was bullied a lot at school, I’ve been attacked. I’m vulnerable. There are some horrible people out there. But for every bad person, there’s a good person. My belief in the goodness of people has kept me going, and other people with serious brain injuries have inspired me and kept me going.

My local day centre shut down so I went to the Recovery College. I went cos I can still improve my life. When one door closes, another opens.

The Recovery College has helped me with my recovery. I had mental health problems for a long time. I came to the college last year and took courses in ‘Managing Anxiety’, ‘Managing Depression’, ‘Sleeplessness’, and ‘Mindfulness’.

I feel a lot more at peace in my life now because the tumour has been removed. I’m not in the same level of pain but there’s still a lot of tension in my head.

I do get sad, very sad. And I do get frightened. It’s about not knowing what will happen in the future. I certainly don’t feel angry. I feel frustrated that I can’t do things I used to do. I want to meet a young lady, and have a family. And try and live a normal life. I like to fit into society.

I’m amazed I’m still alive. So I must take care of it. I must be a strong person to get through this, but also I’ve had a lot of people fighting for me.

The Recovery College is immensely important in my life. The courses and the staff helped me an awful lot. It has enabled me to learn things. I’ve been able to use the tools at home, to manage anxiety, and to be more positive about life.

It’s helping my mental and physical health. I have a belief the body and mind work together, so if I can do things for my mental health it will help my physical health. And then I can give back to society.

I love people. I love life. I appreciate it, because I might not be here tomorrow. It’s made me a better person.

Life is like a birthday every day. Life is very magical and precious. I’ve learnt that the hard way. My life is improving every day. And every day I’m learning. Life is a mystery.

My ultimate wish is to help people see there is hope, against all the odds.

I was in a dark tunnel for many years and I couldn’t see the light. But I can see lots of light, lots of hope, and lots of happiness now.

Delivered as a partnership with the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the Brighton and Hove Recovery College uses education in a supportive learning environment to help people with mental health challenges become experts in their own self-care and recovery. The College provides a wide range of courses which are co-produced and co-delivered by people with lived experience of mental health challenges and are delivered in community and educational venues across Brighton and Hove.

Southdown is an exempt charity registered with the Regulator of Social Housing (L1829) and committed to the National Housing Federation’s code of governance. Southdown is also a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefits Societies Act 2014 (20755R). Terms of Use